Acetylene-gas generator.



G. W. THOMPSON.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION man DEC.8, 1911.

1 ,274,2 1 2. Patented July 30, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

GEORGE W. THOMPSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY-TWO ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTI-IS TO WILLIAM B. SANFORD, TWENTY-FOUR ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO DOUGLAS J. LANDERS, TWENTY-ONE ONE- HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGI-ITHS T0 WILLIAM A. McLATEE, TWELVE ONE-HUN- DBED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO ALPI-IONSO B. LOVAN, TWELVE ONE-HUNDRED- AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO GEORGE W. YOUNG, AND THREE ONE-HUNDRED-AND- TWENTY-EIGHTHS T0 WILLIAM T. SHORES, ALL OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, AND SIX ONE-HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-EIGHTHS TO CLARENCE H. NICHOLS, OF NEIN' YORK, 11. Y.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

' Specification of Iletters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

Application filed December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. THOMPSON,

Generator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators.

An object of the invention is to provide an acetylene gas generator comprising two receptacles, each of which is arranged to contain a gas forming material which when brought together generate the gas, in combination with mechanism arranged to operate automatically to deliver one of the gas forming materials from the receptacle in which it is contained into the other receptacle in which the gas is generated. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for generating gas comprising two receptacles arranged to contain gas forming materials which when brought together will generate gas, and a device movable in one direction by the pressure of the gas to a position to receive the gas forming material from one of said receptacles, and movable in the opposite direction by independent means to a position to deliver the gas forming material into the other receptacle in which the gas is generated.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view illustrating in section the mechanism for delivering the gas forming material from one of the receptacles into the other.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 a of Fig. 1.

The receptacle 1 is arranged to contain normally closed by a removable plug or 010- sure 2. The receptacle 1 may be regarded as the generating tank and has anoutlet passage 3 through which the gas is conducted to any desired point of use.

The other receptacle .4 is arranged'to contain' another gas forming material which when delivered into the gas forming material in the receptacle 1' results in the-generation of gas. The receptacle 4 is provided with a filling opening having a removable closure 5. The lower walls ofthe' receptacle 4 are inclined so that the gas forming mate rial within the receptacle will be discharged through the central opening.

The mechanism for delivering the gas forming material from the receptacle 4 into the receptacle or generating tank 1 is automatic in operation. This mechanism isarranged to operate so that when the gas within the receptacle 1 becomes reduced to or below a predetermined minimum an additional quantity of the gas forming material will be transferred from th'e'receptacle 4.- into the generating tank 1. I I

A chamber 6 is secured to the generating tank 1 and supports-the receptacle 4. The chamber 6 is provided with an opening 7 through its upper wall in communication with the opening through the bottom wall'of the receptacle 4, so that the gas forming material contained in the receptacle lmay pass into the chamber 6. The bottom wall of the chamber6, near one end thereof, has an opening 8 which registers with a similar opening through the top wall of the generating tank. The openings 7 and 8 are thus out of alinement so that it is necessary for the gas forming material to move or be moved laterally in the chamber 6 in order to pass or'be delivered through the opening 8 into the generating tank.

An axially movable carrier 9 is mounted 7 within the chamber 6 and is provided with a circumferential groove or chamber 10 which'in one position of the carrier, as illus: trated in Fig. 1, registers with the opening 7 and receives a quantity of gas forming material from thevreceptacle 4;. When-the carrier -9 is moved akially the groove or chamber 10 brought into registration with the opening 8 through which the gas forming material contained in the groove 10 drops into the generating tank 1, thus bringing together quantities of the gas forming material and causing the generation of gas in the generating tank.

The device for moving the carrier 9 from the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the gas forming material is received from the receptacle a, to the position in which the gas forming material is discharged into the generating tank comprises a spring 11 encircling a rod 12 connected to the carrier 9 and extending through one end of the chamber 6. One end of the spring 11 bears against an abutment 13 in connection with the chamber 6 and the opposite end of the spring bears against an abutment 1% attached to the rod 12. Thus when the carrier 9 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the gas forming material is being received from the receptacle 4, the spring 11 is under compression and at the proper time will expandand move the carrier 9 from the receiving position to position for discharging the gas forming material into the generating tank.

The pressure against opposite ends of the carrier 9 is equalized. In order to maintain the pressure on opposite ends of the carrier at equilibrium 1 have found it practicable to admit pressure into the chamber 6 on opposite ends of the carrier 9. In order to admit pressure at one end the opening 8 is arranged to admit gas into the chamber 6 between the end of the carrier 9 and the end wall of the chamber when the carrier 9 is in any position. In order to admit pressure into the chamber 6 at the opposite end of the carrier a pipe 15 is provided, the same constituting a passage from the tank 1. into the chamber 6. Thus the pressure on opposite ends of the carrier 9 is at all times equal, being the same as the pressure within the generating tank.

After the carrier has been moved by the spring 11 to position for discharging the gas forming material into the tank 1 it is necessary to return the carrier to its receiving position, This is accomplished by the pressure of the gas generated in the tank 1. For this purpose the rod 12 is provided with a piston 16 mounted within a piston chamber or cylinder 17 at one end of which there is a passage 18 for admittin pressure from the generating tank 1 into the cylinder 17. Thus when the pressure in the generating tank rises beyond a predetermined limit the piston 16 will be moved by the gas pressure, thereby moving the rod 12 and the carrier 9 in opposition to the power of the spring 11.

The carrier is moved in the manner de-' scribed 'to position in which the groove 10 --reg1sters with the openlng 7, asshown in FlgYl, and the carrle'r w1ll .be retained in that position by the pressure of the gas until a quantity of the gas is withdrawn from the generating tank. When the pressure of the gas against the piston 16 is less than the power of the spring 11, as when the gas is withdrawn from the generating tank, the spring 11 will expand and move the carrier axially to position to discharge an additional quantity of the gas forming material into the generating tank, after which the operation above described is repeated.

In order to make possible the above described operation of the piston 16, it is necessary to provide means for permitting the passage of air into and out of the cylinder 17 on the side of the piston 16 opposite from the passage 18. For this purpose there is provided a valve controlled passage 19 in which the valve is of usual construction so that when in one adjustment the passage is open and when in another adjustment the passage is closed. In order to enable the mechanism to operate as required to deliver the gas forming material into the generating tank the valve in the passage 19 is placed in open position to permit the air to pass freely into the chamber 17 when the piston is moved under the impulse of the spring 11; and to permitthe air to pass out of the chamber 17 when the piston 16 is moved in the opposite direction by the pressure of the gas.

In order to prevent operation of the mechanism for delivering the gas forming material into the generating tank it is only necessary to place the valve in the passage 19 in closed adjustment so that the piston 16 can not operate under ordinary conditions.

1 am aware that the mechanism for operating the carrier for delivering the gas forming material into the generating tank may be varied, and that other features of the invention may be modified in order to adapt the invention for the various uses to which it may be applied. I contemplate such variation, and do not restrict myself to unessential features, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a separate receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, av chamber, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receive the gas forming material from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming material into the generating tank, passages from said generating tank for admitting gas into said chamber at opposite. ends of s'aidfc'arrier, where by said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a cylinder, a rod in. connection with said carrier extending into said cylinder, a

material therefrom into the generating tank and arranged to admit pressure into ,the'

piston attached to said rod in said cylinder, a passage from said generating tank for admitting pressure into said cylinder at one end of said piston to'actuate said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle and a spring cooperating with said rod for moving said piston to position to discharge the gas forming material into the generating tank.

2. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a separate receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, a chamber, a passage from said receptacle for delivering gas forming material into said chamber, a passage from said chamber for admitting the gas forming material therefrom into the generating tank and arranged to admit pressure into the chamber against one end of the carrier therein, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receivethe gas forming material from the passage from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming material into the passage to the generating tank, a passage for admitting gas from the generating tank into said chamber at the opposite end ofthe carrier whereby said carrier is'maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generatingtank, a cylinder, a rod in connection with said carrier extending into said cylinder, a pistonattached to said rod in said'cylinder, a passage from said genen ating tank for admitting pressure into said cylinder at one end of said piston to cause said piston to actuate said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, and a spring cooperating with said rod for moving said pistonjto po-' sition to discharge the gas forming material into the passage to the generating tank.

3. An acetylene'gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain one of the gas forming materials, a separate re ceptacle arranged to contain another ,gas

forming material, a chamber,a passa efrom said receptacle for delivering gas orming' material into said chamber, a passage from said chamber for admitting the gas forming chamber against one end of the carrier therein, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receive the gas forming material from the passage from said receptacle and movable to another discharge the gas forming materlal into the passage to the generating tank, a passage for admitting gas from the generating tank into saidchamber at the opposite end of the carrier whereby said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a cylinder, a rod in connection with said carrier extending into said sage from the chamber into the generating position to cylinder, a piston attached to said rod in saidcylinder, a passage from said generatto position to discharge the gas forming material into the passage to the generating tankp 4. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain one of the gas formingmaterials, a separate receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material,, a chamber, a passage from said receptacle for delivering gas forming material into said chamber, a passage from said chamber for admitting the gas forming material therefrom into the generating tank and arranged to admit pressure into the chamber against one end of the carrier therein, a carrier in saidchamber'movable to one position to receive the gas forming material from the passage from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming marierextending into said cylinder, apiston attached to said rod in said-cylinder, a pass sage from said generating tank for admitting pressure into said'cylinder at oneend' of said piston to cause said piston to actuate said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, means for varying the amount of pressure required to move said piston as aforesaid, and a spring cooperating WlthSald rod for moving said piston into the passage to the generating tank. 5. An acetylene gas generator, comprisinga generating tank arranged to contain a gas" forming material, a separate receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, a chamber-{a passage from said a receptacle into said chamber, a carrier in the chamber arranged to receive the gas forming material from the receptacle, a pas tank through which the gas forming material is discharged from the carrier into the generating tank, said passage admitting pressure from the generating tank into the chamber at one end of the carrier, a passage from and admitting pressure from the generating tank into said chamber at the opposite end of the carrier, whereby said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a

device for actuating said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, and a separate device for actuating said carrier to position to discharge the gas forming material into the passage to the generating tank.

6. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain a gas forming material, a receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, a chamber, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming material into the generating tank, passages opening into said chamber at opposite ends of said carrier, whereby pressure from the generating tank is admitted into said chamber and said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a device actuated by the pressure in the generating tank for moving said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, means for varying the amount of pressure required to move said device, and a separate actuator for moving said carrier to position to discharge gas forming material into the generating tank.

7. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain a gas forming material, a receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, a chamber, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming material into the generating tank, passages opening into said chamber at opposite ends of said carrier, whereby pressure from the generating tank is admitted into said chamber and said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a device actuated by the pressure in the generating tank for moving said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, and

a separate actuator for moving said carrier to position to discharge the gas forming material mto the generating tank.

8. An acetylene gas generator, compris ing a generating tank arranged to contain a gas forming material, a receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming ma terial, a chamber, a carrier in said chamber movable to one position to receive the gas forming material from said receptacle and movable to another position to discharge the gas forming material into the generating tank, passages from the generating tank into said chamber at'opposite ends of said amount of pressure required to move said piston, and a spring which is placed under compression by the movement of said piston as aforesaid and which expands to move said carrier to position to discharge gas forming material into the generating tank when the pressure of the gas against said piston becomes less than the power of said spring.

9. An acetylene gas generator, comprising a generating tank arranged to contain a gas forming material, a separate receptacle arranged to contain another gas forming material, a chamber, a carrier in said chamber, passages from said generating tank into said chamber at opposite ends of said carrier whereby said carrier is maintained in a balanced position as to the pressure in the generating tank, a passage from said receptacle into said chamber, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a rod connecting said piston and said carrier, a passage for admitting gas from said generating tank into said cylinder at one end of said piston whereby said piston is actuated to move said carrier to position to receive gas forming material from said receptacle, a valve. in connection with said cylinder for varying the resistance to the movement of said piston, and a spring in connection with said rod compressed by the movement of said rod by said piston as aforesaid, and arranged to actuate said rod and thereby said carrier to position to discharge gas forming material into the generating tank when the pressure of the gas against the piston becomes less than the power of the spring.

GEORGE w. THOMPSON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of latcntl, Washington, D. U. 

